Oak Ridge High School hit on all cylinders last week against Karns and coach Scott Blade is hoping for more of the same this week against a similar Hardin Valley squad — as the Wildcats make their march toward the playoffs.

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By Robert Holder

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Robert Holder

Posted Oct. 11, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Updated Oct 11, 2012 at 6:38 PM

By Robert Holder

Posted Oct. 11, 2012 at 6:34 PM
Updated Oct 11, 2012 at 6:38 PM

OAK RIDGE

Oak Ridge High School hit on all cylinders last week against Karns and coach Scott Blade is hoping for more of the same this week against a similar Hardin Valley squad — as the Wildcats make their march toward the playoffs.

“That’s when you want to be playing your best football,” Blade said of the upcoming playoffs.

“We are on that course right now. We just have to stay the course.”

That “course” brings the Hawks, who are on the outside of the Class 6A playoff picture, into Blankenship Field this week on Senior Night for “the Battle of the Bridge.”

Hardin Valley is just two teams back this week in the latest TSSAA playoff forecast and will look a lot similar to the teams Oak Ridge has faced the past couple of weeks.

Though the Hawks have brought in a potent rushing attack the last couple of years, quarterback Nathan White has been given the green light this year to throw the ball around more. Hardin Valley is averaging more than 110 yards through the air, but is still churning up the ground game with more than 1,400 yards already on the season.

“It’s still the same formations and still the same concepts we’ve seen the last few years,” Blade noted. “They still want to run the ball first, and run in between the tackles if they can do it.

“But they do just enough to keep you off balance and move the chains. It will be huge to get the third-down stops.”

The ’Cats defense will also get another chance for takeaways Friday. After forcing four turnovers against Karns, Oak Ridge is now plus-six in turnovers on the season.

Three of the turnovers against the Beavers came on their side of the field and led to points. Meanwhile, Hardin Valley enters the game minus-11 on the season in turnovers.

“That’s against anybody,” Blade said. “If you can win the turnovers and the field position battle, you have really got a chance to do some special stuff.”

The offense will again deal with a loaded box for the second straight week. Oak Ridge was able to stretch the defense last week and get protection behind a banged-up offensive line against the Beavers, and that should improve this week.

Offensive tackle Cam Clark returns after illness to relieve Ethan Grumski. Grumski will be able to move back to defensive end full time for the Wildcats — which, in turn, allows Harry Boston to move back inside to defensive tackle.

Playing 4 quarters

The ’Cats own the fourth quarter this year. Oak Ridge has outscored its opponents 50-13 in the final frame this season; and they are also outscoring their opponents 55-34 in the second quarter.

Page 2 of 2 - Senior Night

The Oak Ridge administration and the fans will honor 53 senior football players, cheerleaders and band members (as well as their parents) before the game Friday — as part of Senior Night. Of the 53, twenty-four are football players and are the first group of players that began play under coach Blade.

CAREacter Athlete of the Week

The CAREacter Star Athlete Program is based on a five-point Star System that includes the basic traits of a true champion, whether on or off the field. Those traits are attitude, character, grades, community service, and performance.

Every week, coaches from schools across the country select one student from each specific sport as their school’s “Star Athlete of the Week” based on those five traits.